PM Pham Minh Chinh (right) receives Russian Ambassador to Vietnam Gennady Bezdetko (centre) and Chairman of Novatek Leonid Mikhelson (Photo: Vietnam Government Portal) Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Pham MinhChinh committed all possible favourable conditions for Russian Ambassador to Vietnam Gennady Bezdetkoduring his tenure while receiving the diplomat in Hanoi on August 3.
PM Chinh said Vietnam considers Russia one of the top prioritiesin its external policy, and wants to strengthen its traditional friendship andcomprehensive strategic partnership with Russia in a more practical andeffective manner.
He expressed his delight at the positive development of the bilateral tieswith the maintenance of all-level communications via phone and online talks. Amid theCOVID-19 pandemic, bilateral economic links have continued growing with two-waytrade reaching 2.6 billion USD in the first half of 2021, up 13 percentyear on year.
On the occasion, the PM thanked Russia and Novatek group forpresenting Spunik V vaccine to Vietnam.
He suggested the ambassador convey his message to Russianleaders, asking for continuing to assist Vietnam in vaccine supplies, stepping up theimplementation of signed vaccine contracts so that Vietnam could soon receivethem this year, as well as facilitating vaccine production technology transfer,especially COVID-19 medicine production, and other medical supplies and medicines.
PM Chinh also proposed the diplomat work closely with Vietnameseministries and agencies and continue strengthening bilateral ties inpolitics, national defence-security, economy, trade, investment,science-technology, education-training, especially in basic sciences andhumanity, culture, arts and sports.
Vietnam always welcomes and creates favourable conditions forforeign investors and those from Russia in particular to explore and joininvestment projects in line with the country's law, particularly in fields where Russia hasstrengths and Vietnam has demand such as infrastructure, energy, oil and gas, forthe benefit of the two nations and for peace, cooperation, development in theregion and the world, he said.
Bezdetko, for his part, described Vietnam as apriority partner of Russia in Asia-Pacific. He agreed with measures andorientations to promote the bilateral ties as suggested by the PM and pledgedto further consolidate and tighten the bilateral relations, especially amid the complicated developmentsof the pandemic in both countries and the world as well.
On regional and global matters, both sides vowedto continue close coordination and mutual support at multilateral forums such as the United Nations and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations(ASEAN).
Regarding the East Sea issue, they emphasised theimportance of ensuring security, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation inthe region, as well as settling disputes over sovereignty, sovereign rightand jurisdiction via peaceful measures and solutions in accordance with the United NationsCharter and the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)./.
